Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[stonecottagefarm]

Hatched out a few Wheatens and it seems like some of them are already feathering out really dark already. Just from your experience, how soon can you usually tell the roosters and hens apart?

TIA!

 

[Goose and Fig]

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3 to 4 weeks. All wheaten chick feathers will have a random partridge pattern that doesn't represent gender at all. You might not be able to see it if they are splash wheaten. Wait til they get older and the big feathers start coming in on thier backs. Big blue or black splotches, not pattern, indicate males. SW are the exception- they will usually have some red though.

 

[ca]

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Very cool color Mahonri! Post one of these and a comparison pic in October. It will be interesting to see... He is already gorgous!

 

[ChicksterJo]

I finally was able to let my chickens "free range" for a couple of hours, supervised because I had to watch these little ones:

And the most apparent roo:

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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They're so pretty!

I just love mine to pieces!!

Wish I was closer, I'd take your roosters off your hands.

 

[ChicksterJo]

Oh I wish you were too! I need to find them good homes but I will hold on to them for as long as I can.
Do yours love to run around flapping their wings? They zip to and fro the yard which was a good thing because they could get away from the bigger chickens.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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Yes!

They're such characters!

I thought about bringing them up to the yard for awhile. I've been having trouble with the heat, it's killed nearly 20 of my birds so far!

Sure wouldn't want anything to happen to them. They seem to be able to take the heat fairly well, where as my Orpingtons and Sussex drop like flies.

 

[ChicksterJo]

Soon after I took those pics the Ameraucanas started panting so I ushered them back into the run so they could get some water. My marans also starts panting way before my other chickens. I freeze a big water bottle and set it out into the run. I also have to put ice in their waterers and mist them with cold water using a hose (or a spray bottle). I don't want to lose any of them!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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I had to bring my Sussex up to the yard, along with my last serviving BO juvenile. Most every day I turn on the sprinkler and of course keep cool water out 24/7 and that seems to help.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I had to move all my portable coops into the woods. I am sooo happy I did that- the marans and LF cochins were the worst off. The wheatens hardly seem to be phased by the heat though.